You might remember them as Agent 86, Agent 99, The Chief, and Ludwig Von Siegfried(who would later be Doc on The Love Boat). These were the primary players in a series running from 19650-1970, called Get Smart. Maxwell “Max” Smart & Agent 99(her name is never actually revealed) are agents of an organization known as CONTROL. CONTROL is a counter-espionage organization headquartered in Washington, DC whose primary purpose is fighting KAOS. KAOS is an international organization of evil (as it is repeatedly called) bent on world domination. KAOS, though founded in 1904 in Bucharest, is a Delaware corporation for tax purposes. This was my earlier encounter of what I thought Chaos was. Chaos was bad. Chaos was evil.
A BATTLE RAGES ON
Watching Get Smart was anything but serious. It seemed to poke fun at everything, but one thing was consistent, both groups, KAOS and CONTROL, had rules. KAOS establishes it base in Delaware for “Tax Purposes” and CONTROL adheres to a book of rules and direction from the President. There was the common theme of Good triumphs over Evil(CONTROL over KAOS), but what should not be overlooked is the reality that the conflict never ended.
CHAOS
‘ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the water. God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light! God saw that the light was good, so God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day” and the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.‘ Genesis 1:1-5
It’s fascinating that, of all things, creation actually begins with God in, of all things, Chaos. For the longest time, Chaos was and has been a “problem” for me. KAOS was bad, and so was chaos. A Chaotic classroom was one that was out of control. Chaotic situations typically were those figurative and literal storms in life. Chaos was a mess and to be avoided. Both The New Testament and The Old Testament speak to Chaos through laments, fear, and loss. Clearly, as far as I was concerned, Chaos was trouble to be avoided and a problem to be solved.
CONTROL
As a problem to be solved and situation to also be avoided, the obvious choice to face the challenge of Chaos would be Control. An organization like CONTROL, as incompetent as it was, served nicely as a means to combat KAOS. And likewise, Control is one of the more commonly used means to deal with Chaos, but is it the most effective?
ART
Like an artist arranging the colors on a palette to canvas, out of Chaos God brings Order. God creates. Isn’t this, in fact, the common theme throughout scripture?
Calms the Storm. Brings Rest. Heals the Sick. Claims the Lost.
What if an effective and faithful encounter with Chaos isn’t about control, but something else?
Art is an expression of any number of things, but it’s mainly about an expression of feeling, of emotion, of meaning. From the masterpieces adorning your refrigerator to the expressions of meaning on your walls, these decorative pieces remind us of people, places, things, and moments. Some were planned, while others were stumbled upon by God’s grace, but they all have meaning. This is why they have a home, in your home. They express meaning in a world that can feel chaotic.
ORDER
Have you ever tried to control something that was wild? In most cases you find yourself in the midst of chaos itself. The struggle, the wrestling, the fight. The only instance I can recall of God wrestling was actually Jacob wrestling to control that which could not be controlled. I don’t recall God fighting or struggling, but I do know He does something else: He Brings Order. He Brings Direction. He Brings Purpose.
Tap into the distracted daydreaming of a person and be amazed at what is produced. Provide order and direction and purpose and see what happens.
‘ I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these, because I am going to the Father. ‘ John 14:12
What if… What if chaos is an ingredient, not good or evil, simply an ingredient in need of someone with a hint or touch of the Creator within them?
‘ Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and take up residence with him. ‘ John 14:23,
Maybe chaos isn’t necessarily trouble to be avoided or a problem to be solved, but instead, something to be better understood. Maybe the gifts God has given you are the gifts that are needed to have God work through the chaos that is seen and experienced.